Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Willekes On Walter Camp Award Watch List
7/26/2019 12:55:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes is on the 2019 Walter Camp Award Watch List, as announced Friday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Willekes is one of 40 players on the Walter Camp Award's "players to watch" for its 2019 Player of the Year award, honoring the top player in college football. The Walter Camp Award is the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
A 2018 Walter Camp Second-Team All-American, Willekes continues to add to his preseason Watch List collection, which also includes the Nagurski Award (top defensive player of the year) and Bednarik Award (top defensive player in college football).
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season.
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A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
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According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.
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At the 2018 Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.
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A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He is MSU's active leader in sacks (10th in school history with 15.5) and tackles for loss (ninth in school history with 35.0). He ranks among the active career leaders in the FBS in tackles for loss (second at 1.30 per game).
The Spartan senior defensive end also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades. Willekes has also been honored on several preseason All-America teams, including first-team accolades from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's.
Willekes is one of 40 players on the Walter Camp Award's "players to watch" for its 2019 Player of the Year award, honoring the top player in college football. The Walter Camp Award is the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
A 2018 Walter Camp Second-Team All-American, Willekes continues to add to his preseason Watch List collection, which also includes the Nagurski Award (top defensive player of the year) and Bednarik Award (top defensive player in college football).
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season.
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A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Â
According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.
Â
At the 2018 Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.
Â
A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He is MSU's active leader in sacks (10th in school history with 15.5) and tackles for loss (ninth in school history with 35.0). He ranks among the active career leaders in the FBS in tackles for loss (second at 1.30 per game).
The Spartan senior defensive end also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades. Willekes has also been honored on several preseason All-America teams, including first-team accolades from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's.
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